State

McDonnell: jobless rate shows Va. 'growing strong'

by APposted Apr 20 2012 12:59PM

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia's unemployment rate dipped slightly in March but it was enough to make it the lowest jobless rate in more than three years.

The Virginia Employment Commission reported Friday that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.1 percent to 5.6 percent. The fourth consecutive monthly decline put the state's jobless rate at its lowest level in more than three years, according to the governor's office.

The commission said the state's unemployment rate has been trending down since January 2010, when the jobless rate peaked at 7.3 percent.

The March 2012 rate is well below the U.S. jobless rate of 8.2 percent.